The pandemic forced the NHL to realign its divisions for the 2020-21 season, and now those divisions will have sponsors.
The special divisions formed just for this COVID-shortened season -- games start Jan. 13 -- will be sponsored by Discover (Central), Honda (West), Mass Mutual (East) and Scotiabank (North).
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The @NHL partners with @Discover, @Honda, @MassMutual and @Scotiabank to name divisions for the 2020-21 NHL season. https://t.co/gwBySMQgis pic.twitter.com/dV2io6Rimv
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 5, 2021
Again, here’s a look at the divisions -- teams will play all regular season games within their division:
East: Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
Central: Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Florida, Nashville, Tampa
West: Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Jose, St. Louis, Vegas
🇨🇦 North: All seven Canadian teams
Helmet ads for revenue
Clearly, the NHL is looking for new revenue streams amid the pandemic as fans will be locked out of arenas for the foreseeable future (well, most arenas). The league is now allowing helmet ads.
The Detroit Red Wings announced Monday they will feature a United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) logo on player helmets starting this season.
Some of these helmet logos are ... better than others:
Our friends at @PPG will be the first-ever helmet entitlement partner for the upcoming hockey season.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 4, 2021
Full details on our new 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉 𝒷𝓊𝒸𝓀ℯ𝓉𝓈: https://t.co/BUUsLJRH2S pic.twitter.com/SOVEdCMW6E
Will we see more moves to increase revenue? How about renaming the teams -- the Detroit Little Caesars, perhaps? The youth teams are way ahead here.
Is this where we’re heading? New York Red Bulls, anyone?
Why not.